Atlas = G scale?

I think Atlas already has it's hands full with O, HO and N.

Rusty

Atlas and standards don't seem to get along very well.  There are some well established standards for truck bolsters and coupler mounting holes in O scale, but Atlas, in their infinite wisdom, chose not to follow them.  I wouldn't expect them to do any better with standards in any other scale.

I seriously doubt that you will ever see Atlas dabble in G gauge (Large Scale). I have no specific info that would lead me to say that, but I figure the chances of seeing new entrants in the G market are just about zero, at least at the present time.

ecd15 posted:

Atlas and standards don't seem to get along very well.  There are some well established standards for truck bolsters and coupler mounting holes in O scale, but Atlas, in their infinite wisdom, chose not to follow them.  I wouldn't expect them to do any better with standards in any other scale.

Does G Scale even have any standards?  There's 4-5 different "scales" that all run on the same track gauge.

Rusty

How about now??? 

1/32 scale car or 2???

I can only hope......

Rusty Traque posted:

ecd15 posted:

Atlas and standards don't seem to get along very well.  There are some well established standards for truck bolsters and coupler mounting holes in O scale, but Atlas, in their infinite wisdom, chose not to follow them.  I wouldn't expect them to do any better with standards in any other scale.

Does G Scale even have any standards?  There's 4-5 different "scales" that all run on the same track gauge.

Rusty

i'd like to think that more people use the term "G scale" out of a "i just don't care" attitude rather than ignorance about the hobby.  there are likely people who would be ok with running a 1:20.3 scale train behind a 1:29 scale Big Boy (if they could only couple ... ).  after all, they both run on the same track, right?  unfortunately, the industry has also adopted this policy of advertising everything that runs on 45mm track, G scale, i imagine to get the attention of this crowd who likely have no idea what the more precise terms mean.

LS... Large Scale that runs on #1 gauge track.  1:32 is the far more accurate scale, but there is too much 1:29 out there to completely ignore the fact that this would be the closest scale.  LS mostly represents equipment that runs on US standard gauge (56.5") track.  it is the NMRA catch-all for scales that run on #1 gauge (45mm) track.

this is also what the OP is probably talking about re: Atlas seeing they deal mostly in standard gauge equipment.  i have heard that the term "#1 scale" is also a term specifically referring to 1:32 scale on #1 gauge track.  '3/8" to the foot' is an alternate definition of 1:32 scale.

Fn3... a bit more confusing.  F scale is the NMRA designation for 1:20.3 or a scale that would treat 45mm gauge track as 3' in full scale.  that's where the "n3" comes in.  F scale running on 3' narrow gauge track.... Fn3.  (compare On3 or HOn3).  this is more of the typical garden layout featuring many of the well known narrow gauge lines, D&RGW, Sumpter Valley, a number of logging roads, etc.

so it's really up to the people who continue to promulgate an overgeneralized, meaningless term.

cheers...gary

[edit: 1:32 is 3/8" to the foot, not 3/16"]

overlandflyer posted:

  '3/16" to the foot' is an alternate definition of 1:32 scale.

 

Ummm... 3/16" to the foot is S Scale: 1:64.

Rusty

Gary

Perfect

Cheers

Larry

The issue I see is that there is G GAUGE track, but many various mfg made different SCALE equipment to run on it.   For example, the LGB stuff is narrow gauge prototyes that vary in scale around 1:20.    They also did some 2 ft gauge prototypes which would even larger - maybe 1:15?    Aristo Craft made 1:32 scale models to run on the same gauge track.    Lionel and MTH had their own scales for the track.

So if Atlas were to do something, what scale should it be?

Rusty Traque posted:

overlandflyer posted:

  '3/16" to the foot' is an alternate definition of 1:32 scale.

 

Ummm... 3/16" to the foot is S Scale: 1:64.

Rusty

you're right, corrected.

prrjim posted:

The issue I see is that there is G GAUGE track, but many various mfg made different SCALE equipment to run on it.   For example, the LGB stuff is narrow gauge prototyes that vary in scale around 1:20.    They also did some 2 ft gauge prototypes which would even larger - maybe 1:15?    Aristo Craft made 1:32 scale models to run on the same gauge track.    Lionel and MTH had their own scales for the track.

So if Atlas were to do something, what scale should it be?

i tried not to deny that there are indeed other scales that use #1 gauge (45mm; 1.77") track.  it can be treated as 2' gauge (1:13.5) or even meter gauge (1:22.2), but i doubt if all the other scales besides 1:32 & 1:29 for US standard gauge of 4' 8½" and 1:20.3 for US 3' narrow gauge make up any more than a few percent of US garden railroads.

probably the biggest argument against using the term "G gauge" which i feel is borderline correct is that uninformed people will automatically translate that to "G scale".  if anything, and i point to even this forum name, the correct term should be G scales... any train that runs in your Garden on 45mm (#1 gauge) track.

again, however, when talking about specific Garden railroads, the division between LS and Fn3 could not be more clear.  as i stated before, Atlas for the most part makes US standard gauge equipment, or at least that is what i recall from my use of their cars in the past.  personally, i'd like to see them make 1:32 scale equipment.  aside from the goofy cars MTH offered, their 1:32 scale equipment sold out quickly and remains hard to find.

cheers...gary